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2010 IGSMA Solo and Ensemble Contest

A big congratulations to all McCracken Band and Choir students who performed at the 2010 Illinois Grade School Music Association District 7 Solo and Ensemble Contest today. McCracken students performed extremely well earning 72 Division I (outstanding) out of 79 solos. Our choir students were extremely impressive with 15 out of 16 solos earning Division I’s and 13 our of 14 vocal ensembles receiving Division I ratings. Great job everyone!

There are not enough words to describe how appreciative we are to all the parents who helped us host this event this year. Everything ran so smoothly and we receive many (MANY) compliments from directors, judges, and guest about how smoothly the event went today. This would not have been possible without the dozens of parents who volunteered many hours, and in several cases all day, today. THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!

Posted: February 13, 2010 | PermaLink

MLK Day Rehearsal

A big congratulations and thank you to the Symphonic Band for their hard work during our Martin Luther King Day rehearsal this morning…and another thanks to Dr. Richard Fischer from Concordia University for taking the time out of his day to help us prepare for our upcoming IMEA performance.

Let’s build on this great day…continue to commitment to the music and let’s do some great things the next several days!

Posted: January 18, 2010 | PermaLink

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year from the McCracken Middle School Bands, and I hope everyone has had a terrific winter break.

My Northwestern Wildcats fought valiantly this morning, but lost another bowl heart breaker. Sigh.

It’s a bit weird feeling anxious for a performance but not being able to do anything about it while on break, but our IMEA performance is now only 27 days away! We’ll hit it hard when we start back up on Monday. Enjoy the weekend.

Posted: January 1, 2010 | PermaLink

IMEA Program

In some ways this still feels somewhat tentative, but our IMEA program has been set (that is, unless it changes again!):

    • McCracken Middle School Symphonic Band
      2010 IMEA All-State Conference

    • The Footlifter – Henry Fillmore (Carl Fisher) 3+
    • A Tallis Prelude – Douglas Akey (Queenwood/Kjos) 3-
    • Korean Folk Rhapsody – James Curnow (Jensen/Hal Leonard) 2
    • Novo Lenio – Samuel R. Hazo (Wingert Jones) 3
    • American Riversongs – Pierre LaPlante (Daehn) 3+

Good luck to the Symphonic Band as we enter the last month of preparations before our performance!

Posted: December 22, 2009 | PermaLink

Happy Winter Break!

We have lots to practice over this time. Solos, IMEA music, etc… Have a happy holidays and come back ready to go!

Posted: December 21, 2009 | PermaLink

Midwest Tidbits

What a great week at the Midwest Clinic in the wonderful new facility!

Posted: December 20, 2009 | PermaLink

Midwest Promotional Video

The new promotional video for the Midwest Clinic has a 1 second clip of our performance at :12!

It’s hard to believe that that performance is already 3 Midwests ago. Time really flies…

Posted: December 7, 2009 | PermaLink

In Memoriam: Neil A. Kjos, Jr.

From the Kjos Music Company Website:

Neil was a tireless supporter of both music education and the arts. He served on the Midwest Clinic Board of Directors (co-founded by his father)from 1968 – 1998, and received its “Music Industry Award” in 1994. He wasan Honorary Associate Member of the American Bandmasters Association, and generously supported arts organizations in his hometown of San Diego including the San Diego Symphony, the San Diego Opera, the Old Globe Theater, and La Jolla Playhouse among others.

Neil passed away on November 23 after a lengthy battle with prostate cancer. He is survived by his wife Barbara, sons Mark and Tim, daughter-in-laws Kelly and Elise, and grandchildren Annika, Patrik, Ethan,and Finn. The family plans a small private service. In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations be made to your favorite charity.

Posted: November 28, 2009 | PermaLink

In the News • November 1, 2010

Trailer for the film “El Sistema,” a documentary about the nation-wide, government funded, music education program in Venezuela….specifically in one of the poorest and dangerous areas in Caracas. My favorite quote of the trailer: “It was my first day in the Chamber Orchestra, so I wanted to be early. But I got shot in the leg, so I couldn’t go. I started to cry because…It wasn’t the pain in my leg. What really hurt was that I couldn’t be in the orchestra that day.” Just released on Amazon this week.

  • More stuff from the world of music on the web:
    • Google makes changes to searches involving music [CNN]
    • A letter from Beethoven to his brothers to be opened after his death [Letters of Note]
    • And, thanks to Sue for this link: Precision is instrumental for Allen High’s 638-member band [Dallas News]

Posted: November 1, 2009 | PermaLink

IMEA District 7 Jr. Band Auditions

Yesterday, 30 members of the McCracken Middle School Symphonic Band auditioned to be part of the Illinois Music Educators Association District 7 Jr. Honor Band at Lundahl Middle School in Crystal Lake. Everyone worked very hard in preparing their audition, and I’m sure we were represented well.

We should have results early next week. If accepted, the IMEA Junior Festival will take place on Saturday, November 7 at Maine West High School. Congratulations to all who auditioned!

Posted: October 4, 2009 | PermaLink

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